New York City Tenants Rally Against Federal Affordable Housing Cuts

Tenants gathered on the steps of City Hall today to demand the U.S. House of Representatives preserve affordable housing funds.

The House wants to cut $5.7 billion from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, $400 million of which would affect New York City.

New York City tenants gathered with local elected officials and housing organizations today on the steps of City Hall, demanding that the U.S. House of Representatives preserve funding for affordable housing.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said the cuts would mean losing essential programs like emergency repairs, housing lawyers, and code enforcements: "Without this funding, without the $400 million, these and so many tenants will be left to suffer and potentially be left to apartments that are just unlivable."

Senator Kristen Gillibrand said the cuts would be catastrophic to New York City. "House Republicans' misguided attempts to put critical affordable housing programs on the chopping block would endanger the security, safety and health of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. We must ensure continued adequate funding for HUD to help city families and revitalize urban communities."

In addition to cuts to housing programs, the House has also proposed a 43 percent cut from Public Housing's capital budget, $250 million of which would affect New York City public housing funding.